Has your homepark inproved since SF took over?

---

SFNE Dude said:
SFMM is definatly not building new coasters every year to compete with Disneyland. They are two completely different parks. I don't care what you say, CP and SFMM are definatly competing over the world record for the most coasters in one park.

When did I ever say that the tallest or fastest coasters aren't fun? I'm not saying that building record breaking rides is a bad thing I'm just saying that they should worry more about making a fun ride that will please guest more instead of a record breaking ride. I'm sure many other enthusiests on this site will agree with me also.

---

Of course SFMM and Disneyland are in competition. Most families make one trip to a park a year, so, the park has to give them a reason to visit their park. Same with KBF and SFMM. There is no coaster race, it's all in your head. They're thousands of miles apart, what do they to compete over? People aren't going to stop going to CP because SFMM has one more coaster. I'm sure many enthusiats will agree with me.

A record-breaking ride is much, much more easier to market, so then you'll make more money. That's why they're focused on making coasters bigger and better. What would draw you to a park, a coaster that may be fun (but you don't know), or a coaster that is taller and faster than any other?
Besides, in my view, no matter how small or tall a coaster is, they're all fun. A coaster doesn't make it itself fun, you make it fun. (Except for the brutal ones like Shockwave [PKD] and Viper [SFGADV])
------------------
"If we knew how safe roller coasters were, we'd lose their thrill" - Daniel Keller

---

SFNE Dude said:
SFMM is definatly not building new coasters every year to compete with Disneyland. They are two completely different parks. I don't care what you say, CP and SFMM are definatly competing over the world record for the most coasters in one park.

---

You're really funny!
SFMM competes with any other amusement attraction (not necessarily parks) in the local market no matter how different it is... just like every other park. And seriously, you really do think both CP and SFMM (many 100 miles away from each other and in no way in any type of competition) build coasters for the sole purpose of keeping a world record?

------------------
It IS as bad as you think, and they ARE out to get you.

I don't think a Six Flags thrill park and a Disney children's park are in much competition. I don't think just because SFMM added a Scream this year a family with young children will go there over Disneyland.

Your not getting my point. SFMM and CP aren't just competing for guests they are also competing for world records which I think is stupid.

I agree with you 100 percent that all rides are fun so that's why I think parks should worry about that instead of that tallest or fastest crap.

Don't get me wrong, a coaster like TTD looks amazing but it just doesn't look like it would be as fun as a ride that has multiple inversions, drops, and helixes but that's just me. If you like your rides huge then good for you but that's not what I look for in a ride.

Goodnight! I'm sick of posting on this site!

------------------
Top 3
1-S:RoS @ SFNE
2-Boulder Dash
3-Yankee Cannonball

---

SFNE Dude said:
I don't think a Six Flags thrill park and a Disney children's park are in much competition. I don't think just because SFMM added a Scream this year a family with young children will go there over Disneyland.

Your not getting my point. SFMM and CP aren't just competing for guests they are also competing for world records which I think is stupid.

I agree with you 100 percent that all rides are fun so that's why I think parks should worry about that instead of that tallest or fastest crap.

Don't get me wrong, a coaster like TTD looks amazing but it just doesn't look like it would be as fun as a ride that has multiple inversions, drops, and helixes but that's just me. If you like your rides huge then good for you but that's not what I look for in a ride.

Goodnight! I'm sick of posting on this site!

---

Disneyland isn't a childrens park, but it definately isn't a thrill park. What about families who have both younger and older children (and most do)?

I don't think a park would spent 10-20 million dollars over bragging rights. They're not going to loose guests by loosing the title of "Americas Roller Coast" or the "Xtreme Park".

Again, how can you judge a ride you haven't ridden? I'll tell you again - Nitro looks more fun than Talon, but when I rode both, I had more fun on Talon. You can't judge how fun a roller coaster is by looking at it.

------------------
"If we knew how safe roller coasters were, we'd lose their thrill" - Daniel Keller

No one mentioned SFNO. Jazzland was one of the most miserable parks because it had 0 shade, 1 okay wooden coaster, 1 Vekoma Boomerang, 1 horrible wild mouse, 1 good kiddie coaster, no good shows, 2 regular water rides and a bunch of so so flat rides.

Then Six Flags came and put shade structures over the entire park, added B:TR, Jester, Lex Luthor's Invertatron, Catwoman's Whip, Joker's Jukebox, a new kiddie ride and completely newly themed kiddie area and Batman Stunt Show. To top it all off we are geting a waterpark and a new coaster (hopefully S:ROS)ithin the next two years, because of the outstanding season pass sales.

------------------
Top 3: 1. Top Thrill Dragster 2. Millennium Force 3. Magnum XL200

---

Mamoosh said:
He has room for both parks in there? That's one mighty big head!

---

Well, you know how egos can swell among enthusiasts.

------------------
-Mike B.
Son of Hulk
------------------

Lets just end this.

------------------
Top 3
1-S:RoS @ SFNE
2-Boulder Dash
3-Yankee Cannonball

---

BaSSiStiSt said:

Guess it's pretty obvious why I'd rather go to Knotts.

------------------
I agree 100% with the ride descriptions you listed. My most recent trip to knotts left me wondering why i go to SFMM anymore. It just seems to have more soul and even though they have only a few big rides, I think Supreme Scream beats out Superman any day of the week.

------------------
SFMM - what is this scream!?pleeease build something huge!! :)

---

I know since Premier bought SF from Time-Warner that the chain as a whole has gone downhill. My home park, SFSL, took a dramatic turn from my point of view. All we have added since the takeover is The Boss and a few atrractions. Oh, I'm sorry, how could I forget the glorious piece known as Xcalibur. Up until the purchase from Warner, the Flags as a whole were still THEME parks, complete with different costumes for each ride or section of the park. When Premier took over, we went to polos and khakis and made us pay for our own uniforms. SFSL will never be a huge park, but with a little more investment into the park by SFI, St. Louis could by one of their best parks. The natural landscaping with the hills behind Eagle and Boss, and all the trees that have been growing for years, make it easy on the eyes and add to the overall look of the park. I just hope SFSL doesn't lose out in the regional battle w/SFGAM as well as SDC/CC and WOF.

------------------
St. Louis Blues hockey RULES!!!

Greatest theme park ride: Steam train

May the Tommy G. Robertson live forever.

I am going to go against the grain here and mention SFGAm and the changes that occured since Six Flags took over. One fortunate thing about the management of SFGAm is that they have managed to keep at bay many of the negative changes occuring at other parks in the chain. Great America has managed to keep much of it's unique themeing and has kept it's unusually high standards for the employees that work there over the years. A good example of this is the Superman queue where they tried to make it blend in with the rest of Orleans Place. I really think they did a wonderful job with that.

Since the departure of Marriott, the park has acquired (net) one very high quality woodie, four Beemers, a much needed kiddie coaster, an impulse, and a green monument. They have been innovators with the first B&M coaster, and with the first inverted looping coaster. They have managed to keep three of the four original Marriotts coasters, which I feel are all special in their own ways and it just wouldnt be Great America without them.

I will say I miss the way the park used to be run. It may be my age and the fact that I was just a kid back then, but it seems like a much more idylic time back then. Some of the special touches like the 10 cent root beer or the trolley or the sky rides I miss very much. Six Flags did also remove the Sky Whirl which I thought was a symbol of the park and almost akin to removing the carousel out front.

Would Marriott have added all the attractions that Six Flags did and kept it a wonderful park to go to? Who knows? I think that Six Flags has done a pretty good job with it though. I actually credit the park management more than the central chain for the great work the park has done over the years satisfying the guests.

------------------
Bob Hansen
Resident Airtime Whore

Although I don't think CP and SFMM are in a dead lock coaster race, it is a good marketing ploy to say that they have more coasters than any other park (although both parks say this, despite having the same number). Plus, I think it always makes you feel a little better when you know you're the best, which both parks strive to be.

------------------
CP 2K3: 13
"What are you, a dentist? Or a hippie? Or some kind of hippie dentist?" -strong bad

I think SFWoA has improved in the coaster count, but in park *quality* it has dropped, I have noticed SF is more concerned about makin the buck with new attractions rather than caring for the coasters (like how they treat the coasters). Also another thing I dont really care for at SFWoA is how all the pathways are jammed together, I feel like i have to tackle people just to get to the ride I want.

Moreover, If you really want to see the difference in SFI taking over Jazzland and flagging it in one season, then just go to www.sfno.com and go to the photo gallery and see the evidence of some before and after photos. A picture is worth a thousand words! This park is going places! Here's a direct link to the before and after photos:http://www.sfno.com/gallery/thenandnow
*** This post was edited by Backseat Lee 8/3/2003 2:04:44 AM ***

It weird that in most cases it seems that SF"s sets up an opening package over a two season period then tends to neglects the park.

------------------
Cedar Point's Mean Streak and World's Of Fun's Dentonator both share the same logo......That's cheap!!!!

Finally someone who agrees with me on that aspect.

SF's had this pattern going for a few seasons now,ever notice how they seem to be buying parks such as La Ronde & Jazzland(SFNO) putting in major rides to draw the peeps & gain a bit of local publicity & then they gradually cut back on the influx of new attractions at the park?

You ask me this question about SFO in 2000 and i say heck ya the company helped the park. You look at WOA the past two and a half years and it's become a resounding "improved? i just wish they could keep the quality from deminishing".

Well SFNE put in S:RoS, so there is NO way it couldnt have improved ;) . The park is alot cleaner than it was as Riverside, and alot more rides were added. The only problem I have, and it's a big one, is taking 20 ft out of the drop of the Cyclone and changing the trains up. You used to slide all over the seats and get banged up, hell that was 1/2 of the fun :). Now there are seat seperators and the drop is practically non existant. Still a really fun ride, but not as fun as it once was.....

BTW Superman rules :)

I know what you mean,since SF took over they've completely butchered Wild one to death in my opinion.

First they reprofiled the first drop,then as if that weren't enough they went & completely ruined the turn around at the far end & to top it all off they added a trim brake just before the helix.

On the bright side the ride did recieve two brand new trains though,so you can't complain too much about that.

I hear you loud and clear Adam. Riverside was a nice little park but S:RoS put this park on the map. I agree with you on the Cyclone issue as well. I also think they need to work on the crowd control a little bit too. I went about a week ago and all the coasters had two trains running except Superman. You would think the busiest ride would have the most trains going... oh well I still had a great day.

---

---

Look up in the sky..it's a bird, it's a plane,NO it's....

I think that SFNE is a prime example of how SF has drastically improved a park. Since SF bought the park it has steadily improved and expanded. SFNE has countless flats, great coasters, and a massive water park. Unlike many other SF parks, SFNE hasn't been neglected after a couple of years. Instead it has continued to grow and make progress every year. Yes the park has some issues such as crowd control, but when you look at the pro's and con's of SF ownership the pro's outweigh the con's dramatically.

And yet SF ownership can actually hurt a park, such as SFMM. Although I don't knwo much about SFMM before it was flagged I do know that the park has some major issues. What perplexes me is how SF ownership can create two different extremes: one being the best thing that could happen fpr a park(SFNE) and the other being damaging to a park(SFMM). Is it the management of each individual park that creates such a stark difference in how ownership has affected a park? Or is it corporate SF that can make or break a park?